-LRB- CNN -RRB- Food & Wine magazine has released its annual list of the best new chefs across America . Making the cut in 2015 are a chef with a doctorate in neuroscience , a one-time `` Top Chef '' contestant and a culinary artist who plays blues guitar in his free time .

The 11 chefs and their restaurants , which will be profiled in the July issue of Food & Wine , span the country as well as the culinary spectrum , specializing in Spanish tapas , rustic Italian , modern American , farm-to-table and even the breakfast and lunch rush . What they all have in common is a willingness to take risks while satisfying the palates of many , says Food & Wine Editor in Chief Dana Cowin .

`` I was surprised , and delighted , by how personal these restaurants are , '' said Cowin . `` The chefs seem to be cooking to please themselves , and in the process have dazzled diners . ''

Cowin noted a trend : The chefs are nodding toward the past while innovating .

`` Chefs are also looking to their families as touchstones , '' she said . `` We 've seen a lot of paeans to grandmothers . In fact , Olamaie is named for one of the two chefs ' grandmothers . Tim Maslow of Ribelle took over his father 's restaurant , Strip T 's , and reinvented the food , while leaving the décor the same . Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria was born into a family that had a Mexican-American restaurant and now he 's elevated that traditional cooking . ''

Though many of the chefs are looking to a simpler time in their lives for inspiration , picking the top cooks in the country is no simple task .

First , Food & Wine editors reach out to a `` trusted group of nominators '' around the country , which includes writers for the magazine , past honorees and industry insiders , for their picks . They 're looking for chefs who have been creating dishes and running a professional kitchen for five years or less .

Editors also comb local magazines and newspapers to find out who is generating buzz regionally . Once the group of candidates is whittled down , Food & Wine visits the restaurants to taste the local fare anonymously .

This year 's selections include a former scientist , chef Katie Button of Curate in Asheville , North Carolina ; `` Top Chef '' season 4 contestant Zoi Antonitsas of Westward in Seattle ; and blues-lover Bryce Shuman of Betony in New York City .

`` Top Chef '' host Tom Colicchio , famed restaurateur Thomas Keller and international megachefs Daniel Boulud and Nobu Matsuhisa are past honorees .

The July issue of Food & Wine hits newsstands in mid-June , and the honored chefs will be in attendance at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen , Colorado , that month .

A complete list of this year 's Food & Wine top chefs is below . See the gallery above for more on the chefs and their cuisine .

Bryce Shuman ; Betony ; New York City

Michael Fojtasek and Grae Nonas ; Olamaie ; Austin , Texas

Zoi Antonitsas ; Westward ; Seattle

Jake Bickelhaupt ; 42 Grams ; Chicago

Jonathan Brooks ; Milktooth ; Indianapolis

Katie Button ; Curate ; Asheville , North Carolina

Jim Christiansen ; Heyday ; Minneapolis

Tim Maslow ; Strip T 's and Ribelle ; Boston

Ori Menashe ; Bestia ; Los Angeles

Carlos Salgado ; Taco María ; Costa Mesa , California

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Food & Wine magazine picks a crop of promising chefs annually

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This year 's chefs include specialists in tapas , Mexican food and rustic Italian fare